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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rogers
selected for AAAE 2012 Distinguished Service Award
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Tim Rogers, A.A.E.
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Atlanta, Ga., (May 20, 2011) -
Salina Airport Authority Executive Director Tim Rogers, A.A.E. was
named to receive the American Association of Airport Executives 2012
Distinguished Service Award at the 83rd Annual AAAE Conference and
Exposition, held May 15- 18.
"I am truly honored,"
Rogers said. "Service to the Salina community, State of
Kansas and AAAE has been important to me. I have just tried to
follow the actions of my mentors."
The Distinguished Service Award
is one of AAAE's highest levels of recognition, according to the AAAE
website. Men and women receive this award as a reflection of
outstanding accomplishments in their professional and personal
lives. Respected leaders of their own communities, these men and
women also contribute to other aviation organizations, serve AAAE and
its chapters and participate in civic and community affairs. DSA
winners exemplify the best in airport management by continually
bringing credit to the profession and the aviation community. All
DSA winners are Accredited Airport Executives and exemplify the
standards accreditation seeks to inspire.
Newly elected AAAE Chair Kelly
Johnson, A.A.E. will formally present the award after January
2012.
Rogers began his airport
management in 1979 as the assistant airport manager of Jefferson County
Airport Authority in Colorado where he started in the airport
maintenance and aircraft rescue and firefighting. He has been the
executive director of the Salina Airport Authority since 1985.
In 1997, Rogers was one of 11
airport executives that made up the first ever U.S. Contract Tower
Association Policy Board. At the time, a total of 160 airports were
participating in the Federal Aviation Administration's Federal Contract
Tower Program. Today, 246 airports and communities benefit from ATC
services offered at contract towers. From December 2003 to September
2008, Rogers was chair of the USCTA Policy Board. His leadership and
service was instrumental in the growth of USCTA membership and
improvements to the FAA Federal Contract Tower Program. From an initial
64 USCTA members, the association has grown to more than 200 members
representing airports, state organizations and the ATC industry. As
Policy Board chair, Rogers represented the interests of the USCTA
membership before Congress, federal agencies and the AAAE board of
directors.
In August 2008, Governor Kathleen
Sebelius appointed Rogers as the co-chair of the
Transportation-Leveraging Investments in Kansas task force. The task
force was charged with developing recommendations for a new
comprehensive and strategic transportation program. The T-LINK
recommendations resulted in action by the 2010 Kansas Legislature to
adopt the current T-WORKS program. T-WORKS legislation funds a truly,
multi model, multi-year program funding Kansas highways, bridges,
public transit, railroads and airports. Kansas airports are now able to
receive state grants from the $6 million per year Kansas Airport
Improvement Program. For the first time, Kansas airport sponsors are
also able to apply for T-WORKS economic development grants to assist
communities to attract new industry and jobs to Kansas airports. Rogers
played an active role in the passage of T-WORKS by the Kansas
Legislature by testifying before various committees.
Prior to co-chairing the T-LINK
task force, Rogers was part of the State's 1998 - 1999 Transportation
2000 task force and helped to develop the 2008 Long Range Transportation
Plan for the Kansas Department of Transportation. In each case he was
an advocate for enhanced state funding for small and rural Kansas
airports.
Rogers' service to AAAE and the
AAAE South Central Chapter has focused on several key national committees
and mentoring chapter accreditation candidates.
In addition to serving on the
USCTA Policy Board for over 12 years, Rogers was a contributor to the
AAAE Board of Examiners. From 2000 to 2005 he was active in developing
and implementing steps taken to energize the airport executive
accreditation process. Several of today's accreditation programs
improved features were developed during his tenure on the BOE. The
South Central Chapter's accreditation efforts were energized during his
tenure as the Chapter's Regional examiner.
In 2008, the AAAE Board of
Directors presented Rogers with a 2008 Award of Appreciation in
recognition of outstanding service as chair of the U.S. Contract Tower
Association.
Since 1985, Rogers has been
active in the AAAE South Central Chapter. In addition to serving on
various committees, he has held each of the chapter's officer
positions. In 1999, he adjusted his schedule to become chapter
president early (2000 - 2001) due to the departure of the airport
executive scheduled to be chapter president. During his term as
president, he also became the chapter's BOE regional examiner and
representative to the AAAE BOE.
Most recently, Rogers has started
to teach airport management courses at Kansas State University at
Salina. The K-State Salina aviation program has implemented an airport
management degree program with his guidance. K-State airport management
students are able to take advantage of the Salina Airport Authority's
internship program.
During his airport management
career, Rogers has provided considerable support to state airport
management associations. While in Colorado, he was a 1988 founding
member of the Colorado Airport Operators Association. The CAOA
continues to actively represent the interests of the 79 public use
airports in Colorado.
For the Kansas Association of
Airports, Rogers has served a total of 10 years on the KAA board of
directors and three years as KAA president. Under his leadership,
Kansas airports are now a part of a comprehensive state transportation
program that provides funding for small and rural Kansas airports. The
Kansas AIP program provides much needed funding for many of the 104
Kansas airports that do not qualify for FAA AIP grant funding.
From 1993 to 1997, Rogers served
as chairman of the Kansas Aviation Advisory Committee. The committee
made the placement of ASOS/AWOS equipment at Kansas airports a top
priority.
Rogers has been a strong
supporter of the U.S. military. Since 2008, he has been a member of the
Kansas Governor's Military Affairs Council. His commitment and
leadership has led to growth of military training activity at the
Salina Airport and Airport Industrial Center. This growth and
development has resulted in the establishment of the Great Plains Joint
Training Center. The GPJTC has quickly become the premier location for
joint force training for active duty, reserve National Guard and NATO
military units.
In March 2010, Rogers was awarded
the first-ever Kansas National Guard Patriot Medal "for providing
immeasurable support to the Great Plains Joint Training Center and
Kansas National Guard." The Patriot Medal and citation were
presented by General Craig McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau
and Major General Tod Bunting, the Adjutant General, Kansas National
Guard.
Rogers' leadership on the City's
Salina Economic Development Council has led to two grant awards to
Kansas State University at Salina for the establishment of the K-State
Salina UAS Program Office. $300,000 in SEDIC grant funds has enabled
K-State to secure more than $4 million in UAS research and development
grants and contracts. K-State Salina is now an acknowledged leader in
the development of unmanned aircraft for emergency response to natural
and manmade disasters.
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